After leaving the apartment, Ren Isana headed straight for the commercial street. He didn't bring any weapons today, simply walking alone down the road.
Since it was Saturday, there were quite a few people out and about. Plus, it was already noon, and many had started their lunch breaks, making the streets quite lively.
Ren found a restaurant near his apartment and grabbed a quick bite. *The food was just average. I'm not coming back here again.*
After finishing lunch, Ren headed to the herbal market to begin his shopping.
He still had a decent amount of money on hand. It was more than enough to buy some herbs and equipment; he wouldn't even need to spend that much.
As he walked, Ren pondered. Drawing upon the knowledge in his mind, he estimated the cost of brewing those potions.
Since most of the required ingredients were common herbs, a few hundred bucks could yield several bottles of Magic Power recovery potions.
*Those merchants actually have the nerve to sell ordinary Magic Power recovery potions for several hundred bucks a bottle in their shops. The profit margins are insanely high! I wouldn't have known if I hadn't learned it, but now that I have, it's terrifying.*
*Those merchants probably mass-produce them, which drives the costs down even further and pushes their profits even higher. From now on, I'll just brew my own potions.*
He refused to be a massive sucker. Otherwise, the materials he gathered from a single trip wouldn't even cover the cost of the potions he used. No wonder so many people who loved exploring Dimensional Rifts ended up quitting halfway through—they simply couldn't afford to keep playing!
The money they earned probably didn't even cover their expenses. This was especially true with those shady merchants who loved hauling their goods into the Dimensional Rifts to sell, jacking up the prices just like tourist traps.
Once inside, the prices would double or even triple. *It's just plain extortion. Maybe I can brew some extra and sell them to my classmates at a lower price.*
*Rather than letting those shady merchants line their pockets, I might as well make that money myself.* At this thought, Ren instantly perked up. It seemed he had just found another excellent way to make a fortune.
*But before that, I need to actually brew the potions. Talk is cheap until I have the finished product in hand. First things first: buy the herbs!*
Arriving at the herbal market, Ren began his shopping spree. The ingredients needed for Magic Power recovery potions and True Qi recovery potions were all common herbs.
Thus, they were very easy to find. He checked online for a reputable pharmacy nearby and headed over. It wasn't far at all—just around the corner.
This pharmacy, named Baoshutang, was actually a national chain. Located right in the heart of the city, Ren was immediately greeted by the rich, earthy scent of medicinal herbs upon arrival.
It seemed this entire building belonged to Baoshutang. The first floor alone resembled a massive herbal market. Stepping inside, the air was thick with the fragrance of various herbs.
"Hello, what can I help you find?" Seeing Ren enter, a female clerk quickly approached to assist him.
"Inula flowers, Violet Peonies, Evening Primrose... give me five pounds of each," Ren said, rattling off a list of medicinal names. Hearing these ingredients, the clerk immediately understood what he was trying to do.
"You're looking for the materials to make Health and Mana potions, right?" the clerk asked, voicing her guess. She was no stranger to these ingredients; they were the standard components for brewing red and blue potions.
"That's right. If you have them here, please get the brewing tools and potion bottles ready for me as well." Ren wasn't surprised in the least that she could instantly tell what he was up to.
If she didn't even have that basic level of knowledge, she wouldn't be working here. Since he was already here, Ren naturally wanted to get everything sorted out in one go for convenience.
"No problem, we have all of those in stock. How about swapping the glass bottles for potion pouches? They're much more convenient to use nowadays." The clerk nodded, jotting down Ren's requests while taking the opportunity to make a recommendation.
The "potion pouches" she mentioned were essentially the same type of sealed bags used for takeout soups or drinkable jellies. It seemed glass bottles were no longer the popular choice.
Ren naturally had no objections. These pouches were actually quite nice. He wouldn't have to run around carrying a bunch of clinking bottles and jars, and there was no risk of glass shattering under pressure.
After all, this was reality, not a game. In reality, convenience was king. In a game, drinking a potion wouldn't leave a single shard of glass behind, but in the real world, it absolutely would.
After requesting the various items he needed, Ren followed the clerk to the lounge area to wait quietly, taking the opportunity to browse the other herbs on display.
There were countless herbs priced at hundreds or even thousands of bucks per pound. Only someone who truly understood this industry would realize just how expensive it could be. Fortunately, the herbs he needed weren't too pricey.
In just a few moments, the various herbs Ren requested were ready. The clerk who had initially greeted him returned, carrying two large bags.
"These are the herbs you asked for. You can check them over while I go prepare the rest of the equipment and potion pouches for you." She placed the herbs down in front of Ren.
Ren didn't stand on ceremony. He untied the bags and began inspecting the contents. The herbs had already been weighed and were all packed in sealed bags.
He opened them up for a closer look. They were all top-quality herbs. *There's a good reason they have such a stellar reputation.*
Thinking this, Ren resealed the bags and continued checking the rest, finding no issues whatsoever.
Furthermore, the weight was spot on. Ren did a quick comparison and found that the weights were perfectly consistent, proving they hadn't shortchanged him.
For a martial artist, telling if the weight was accurate was child's play. Besides, a store like this wouldn't stoop to cheating customers on something so trivial.
After waiting a little longer, the clerk returned once more. This time, she was carrying a large box containing the tools and potion pouches Ren needed.
Setting the items down, she opened the box and pulled out a smaller case from inside. "Please check to ensure these tools are in good condition."
Hearing this, Ren nodded and got to work. He pulled an item out of the case that looked remarkably like an electric kettle.
This was an extraction device used for processing herbs, and it required an infusion of Magic Power to operate. He took it out, channeled a bit of Magic Power into it, and after confirming that the internal mechanisms lit up properly, he placed it back.
Ren inspected the rest of the items as well. Finding no issues, he finally spoke up, "Pack it all up for me. I'll go pay."
"Understood. Here is your invoice. The cashier is right over there!" Hearing that he was ready to pay, she hurriedly handed Ren the itemized list.
Ren took it and gave it a quick glance. Seeing no discrepancies, he headed toward the cashier. This single shopping trip had instantly wiped out two-thirds of his available funds.
*Now I'm down to just a few thousand bucks again. How frustrating. Money really burns a hole in your pocket. I'd better hurry back, brew these potions, and sell them to Asuna!*
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